Otoconcusser



Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

1 1,575,724 PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON L. SMITH AND nonna'rn. SCHWALB, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

@ OTOCONGUSSER.

Application filed December 31, 1923. Serial No. 683,616.

To all whom it may concern: e

Be it known that we, MILTON L. .bMr'rI-I and ROBERT E. SoI-rwALn, both citizens or the United States, and residents of thecity of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Otoconcusser; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to oto concussers for ear treatment. In apparatus of this kind the ear is'subject to treatment by pulsz'iting fluid pressure.

Hereto'fore the pulsations have been produced by means of a diaphragm rigidlyconnected at its center to a plunger, reciprocated by a rigid crank and connecting rod.

As the speeds employed may reach as high as 3,000 R. P. M. the wear and tear and number ofbreakages' of parts were very high. Further the noise was very considerable especially after the journals and pivot pins had worn allowing play between the various parts.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for operating a diaphragm at a high rate of speed.

Another object is to provide substantially noiseless means for operating a diaphragm.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of apparatus for ear treatment by pulsating fluid pressure.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and specification.

The invention (in apreferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-- tion on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing parts in elevation.

As shown on the drawings The machine comprises a base 5 to which is secured the o crating motor 6. At one end of the base is a bracket 7 which carries a block 8 forming a part of the casing for the diaphragm 9. Thisdiaphragm is con-' veniently formed of rubber or other flexible and preferably elastic material.

The bracket 7 and block 8 are apertured and threaded to receivethe end of a pipe 10 leading to a T-piece 11'. -One arm of this T-piece carries an attachment 12 for connecting the instrument to the ear whilst the other arm is provided with a stop-cock 13 which isadapted to be connected to a suitable container for compressed air.

The diaphragm 9is clamped against the block 8 by means of a cylindrical block 14: I connected thereto by bolts 15.

Centrally ar-- ranged within the block 14 is a bushing 16, internally threaded at its outer end for the reception of a gland 17.

The outer end of this rod is threaded for engagement with a thumb-nut 26, by means of which the. position of the rod 23 relatively to the bracket 22 may be adjusted against the pressureof the spring 25.

The adjacent ends of the plunger 18 and the rod 23 are slotted and pins 26 and 27 are passed through these slotted portions to engage the end portions of an elongated flexible band 28.

By spreading apart the two sides of this band the plunger may be retracted against the pressure of spring 20. This may con veuiently be accomplished by mounting on.

the shaft 20 of the motor 6, two discs 30 between whichare arranged diametrically op posits pulley wheels 3] overwhich the band 28 passes.

A helical spring 32 having a washer 33 attached thereto at one end, is held by its own compression between the block 8 and the diaphragm 9 with the axis of said spring coinciding with the center line of the plunger 18 and with the Washer 33 contacting said diaphragm. The function of this spring is to cause said diaphragm 9 to retract to its normal plane as the plunger 18 retracts. The spring is of su'llicicnt strength to return the diaphragm to its normal plane even after the diaphragm through use has lost its elastic quality. The Washer 33, hoW- ever, is of sufiicient size to prevent the spring 32 from distending the diaphragm beyond its normal plane.

As the motor revolves the band is first spread laterally and then allowed to collapse under the action of the spring 20 operating the plunger. In this way the plunger is rapidly reciprocated without the aid of any rigid connecting rods and so forth. As the inner face of the block 14:: is a plane surface the diaphragm cannot follow" the plunger back beyond its normal position of rest. Consequently by adjusting the position of the flexible band 28 as a Whole by means of rod 22) and its thumb nut 26, the effective stroke of the plunger may be varied. The actual length of stroke is not changed but the distance the plunger moves beyond the face of the block 14L is changed'and it is this distance which determines the degree of movement of the diaphragm.

It has'been found that the life of the diaphragm is considerably increased by not allowing it to follow the plunger back a substantial distance beyond its normal position of rest. Further by the present arrangement there is a sudden impact upon the diaphragm as the plunger moving forward under the action of its spring 20 strikes the diaphragm.

lVe are aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted other wise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention- 1. A machine of the kind set forth comprising a flexible diaphragm, a reciprocable plunger for operating the diaphragm, a spring adapted to move the plunger in one direction, a shaft rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the plunger and a cord connection between said shaft and said plunger adapted to retract the plunger against the action of said spring on each revolution of the shaft.

2. A machine of the kind set forth comprising a flexible diaphragm, a reciprocable plunger for operating the diaphragm, a spring adapted to move the plunger in one direction, a fixed support, an .jiitlltSS elongated band of flexible material attached at one end to the plunger and at the other end to said fixed support and means for periodically spreading apart the two sides of the band to retract the plunger against the action of the spring.

8. A machine of the kind set forth comprising a flexible diaphragm, a re-ciprocable plunger for operating the diaphragm, a spring adapted to move the plunger in one direction, a fixed support, an endless elongated band of flexible material attached at one end to the plunger and at the other end to said fixed supportand means for periodically spreading apart the two sides of the band to retract the plunger against the action of the spring, said means including a rotatable disc having a pair of members diametrically arranged thereon adapted to contact with the inner sides of said band.

t, A machine of the kind described comprising a flexible diaphragm, a connection for fluid pressure on one side of the diaphragm, a spring pressed plunger on the 0pposite side of the diaphragm for moving the latter, means for limiting the movement of the diaphragm in the direction of the plunger thereby causing the plunger to strike a sudden blow on the operative stroke of the plunger, a fixed support, an endless band of flexible material attached at one end to the plunger and at the other end to said fixed support and means for periodically spreading apart the two sides of the band to retract the plunger against the action of the spring.

5. A machine of the kind set forth comprising a flexible diaphragm, a reciprocable plunger for operating the diaphragm, a spring adapted to move the plunger in one direction, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a fixed support, an endless elongated. band of flexible material attached at one end to the plunger and at the other end to said fixed support and means for periodically spreading apart the two sides of the band to retract the plunger against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

MlL'lON L. SMl'lH. ROBERT H. SCHVVALB. 

